Internal-combustion engine



tu? Ii' ittntented dept. 4, 1923,

UNTED STATES 1,682,1'998 PATENT OFFICE.

'tl E. SMMEBS, 0F DAYTON', OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH RYORATION, F DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE. I

HTTERNAL-GOMBUSTION Application led March 13, 1925. Serial No. 15,418.

vand also the products of combustion which leak past the piston rings either during the compression or .the ring strolie.A The fuel adinixture to the oil has the effect of thinning-down the lubricant to a point where it ceases to function properly. That portion oit the products of combustion, which is Water vapor, tends to condense on the relatively cold walls of the crankcase and the water thus formed is deposited in the oil. Water in the oil, not only interferes with the normal lubrication, but tends to cause oor- ;"f' .iosion and in winter through freezing may cause the entire lubrication system to become inoperative. v

Both the water and the fuel mixed with the oil niay be removed by evaporation if air or other relatively unsaturated gases are passed through the crankcase so as to come in contact with the surface of the liquid and also with the spray of lubricant present in the crankcase when the engine is running..

in order to accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided within thc engine ci'anlrcase, engine-operated means ici' causing lthe absolute pressure of the vaporous contents of the crankcaso to be greater adjacent the walls of the cranlicase than at a central portion, or portion more remote from the crankcase walls. In the forni oit the invention disclosed, this means comprises the engineA crank shaft and crank throws, which act similarly to a centrifugal ian to produce a vortex of the vaporous contents ci the cranlrcase about the axis of the crank shaft. Air is admitted from the exterior of the cranlrcase directly to the centrai portion of the vortex, and the cranlzcase is provided with an air-and-vapor outlet adjacent the periphery of the vortex.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preiierred forni o the present invention is clears ly shown.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a ragrnentary transverse sectional view of an interna1-combustion engine embodying the present invention, this View bein taken substantially on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of the engine shown in Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, I designates the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine supporting one or more cylinders 21 and carryin an oil-pan 22. The crankcase encloscs an supports the crank shaft 23 carrying crank pins 25 connected with connecting rods 26. The cranlrcase is provided with an air-inlet pi e 27 which may be connecteddirectly wi atmosphere or may be connected with an air cleaner 28. The pipe 27 is downwardly-inclined toward the crank shaft, so that air issuin therefrom will be directed tangentially wit respect to a circle which i's concentric with the crank shaft 23. ,A portion of the up er wall of the crankcase20 and the cylin er block which includes the linders 21, provides a valve push rod chain r 31 which is closed by a plate 32. secured in position by a wing nut 33 which engages the end of a stud 34, attached to the block 30. The plate 32 is provided with an air-outlet openin 35, leading into an a1r-outlet pipe 36 wich is inclined downwardly toward the rear of the engine or toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2. The chamber 31' houses one or more valve push rods 37, each guided by bearing 38 in the chamber 30, and by bearing 39 detachably supported by the crankcase 20. Adjacent the bearing 39, the, top Wall of the crankcase is provided with air outlets 40. 41 indi ca tes a cani operated b'y the engine for operating the push rod 37. A baille 4:3 attached to tle cover 32-is located opposite the openin ring the operation of the engine the cranlr shaft rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to cause the vaporous contents of the crankcase, including oil inist, water vapor and air to move `in a circular path or v'ortex, indicated by the arrows 50. This Icauses the absolute pressureA at the region adjacent the crankshaft to be subatmospheric and less than the absolute ressure at the region adjacent the walls o the cranlrcase. This induces the circulation of air through the pipe 27 in'the direction of the arrows 51 and this air issues from the pipe 27 in a direction tangential to the circular path of the air and vapor adjacent the crank shaft. The passaffes are located adjacent the periphery of5 the vortex so that the vaporous contents may pass out of the crankcase.

The openings 40 might lead fdirectly to atmosphere, as through an ordinary breather, but it has been found advantaveous to direct the discharge from the cran case into a valve chamber which is of sufficient size to cause the air to flow rolativelv slowly so'that drops of lubricant included in the discharge from the crankcase will be trapped and may return to the crankcase or come in Contact with the valve push rod 37 to lubricate the latter. As a part of the wall of the valve chamber 3l is contiguous with the cylinder wall, some of the heat of combustion to the engine is used to heat the discharge from the crankcase and vaporize some of the water dilution which may be present.

The baille 4Q assists in reventing the exit of drops of oil througii the pipe 35. Crankcase vapors and Ventilating' air will issue from the ipe 36 in the direction of the arrows 53. he pipe 36 is inclined downwardly toward the rear of the engine, so that the draft of air indicated by arrow 54, produced by the engine fan 60 or by the motion of the vchic e propelled b the engine, will assist in inducing;r a circu ation of air and vapors through the pipe 36 In this manner these vapors will be expelled from the vehicle without making an odor objectionable to the passengers.

lVhile the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

vWhat is claimed is as follows:

1. An internal combustion engine comprisin" cylinders, pistons in the cylinders, a va ve compartment, a crankcase having an air admission opening, said valve compartment being in communication with said l,

crankcase to receive air and gases therefrom, and a conduit lea-d'ng from said valve compartmentand extending rearwardly of t-he engine so as to be subject to the aspirating action of passing air currents, said valve compartments being provided with a cover upon which said contlu't is mounted.

2. In combination with an engine of the type having a valve. and tappet compartment at one side of the cylinders, said engine being provided with the usual crankcase serving as a lubricant reservoir, said crankcase being in communication with the valve compartment, means for admitting air to the crankcase, and means for supplying suction to the valve chamber to effect a circulation of air-through the crankcase and valve compartment to effect evaporation and removal of d'luents, said valve compartment being provided with the usual removable cover and said last-named means comprising a suction tube mounted on said cover.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

CALEB' n. sUMMEas. 

